News

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Dr. Chris Baldwin points to the screen to make a point during a discussion at the June 26 meeting of the Macon County Board of Education. The June meeting was the last for the retiring superintendent.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Dr. Chris Baldwin points to the screen to make a point during a discussion at the June 26 meeting of the Macon County Board of Education. The June meeting was the last for the retiring superintendent.

More schools qualify for free lunches

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Seven more Macon County schools will offer universal free lunch in the 2023-24 school year.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioners Gary Shields, Danny Antoine, Paul Higdon and Josh Young vote for solid waste fee hikes during a special called meeting on Monday, June 26. Commissioner John Shearl, sitting next to Young, voted against the fee increases. Also pictured is Solid Waste Director Chris Stahl (far left) and County Finance Director Lori Carpenter (far right).

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioners Gary Shields, Danny Antoine, Paul Higdon and Josh Young vote for solid waste fee hikes during a special called meeting on Monday, June 26. Commissioner John Shearl, sitting next to Young, voted against the fee increases. Also pictured is Solid Waste Director Chris Stahl (far left) and County Finance Director Lori Carpenter (far right).

County approves solid waste fees increase

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Contention and confusion, specifically by one commissioner, over solid waste fee increases, led to a vote that approved those hikes after an hour-long Board of Commissioners meeting Monday morning.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The Franklin Chamber of Commerce was one of two buildings damaged after a man rammed his truck into the buildings on the morning of June 23. The other building hit was First Bank, where the man was seen hitting the ATM with a helmet.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - The Franklin Chamber of Commerce was one of two buildings damaged after a man rammed his truck into the buildings on the morning of June 23. The other building hit was First Bank, where the man was seen hitting the ATM with a helmet.

Otto man arrested after hitting buildings

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
An Otto man is facing felony fleeing charges after leading Franklin Police officers on an early morning chase and then driving into the Franklin Chamber of Commerce building. According to FPD Chief Devin Holland, on Friday, June 23, at 4:01 a.m.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioner Gary Shields (left) makes a point about the Macon Middle School track during a discussion at the June 13 commissioners’ meeting. Also pictured are Commissioner Danny Antoine and Chair Paul Higdon.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Commissioner Gary Shields (left) makes a point about the Macon Middle School track during a discussion at the June 13 commissioners’ meeting. Also pictured are Commissioner Danny Antoine and Chair Paul Higdon.

Higdon property lease approved

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
By a 4-1 vote, the Macon County Board of Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement that will lease the Higdon property across from Franklin High School to Macon County Schools. The county entered a $1.
Town Council sets 33-cent tax rate

Town Council sets 33-cent tax rate

Town Council sets 33-cent tax rate

Mia Overton
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
The Franklin Town Council held a special called meeting on June 15 and unanimously approved its $11,080,577 budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Board of Commissioners Chair Paul Higdon and Commissioner Josh Young discuss the county’s 2023-24 budget during a special called meeting on June 19.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Board of Commissioners Chair Paul Higdon and Commissioner Josh Young discuss the county’s 2023-24 budget during a special called meeting on June 19.

County passes budget, pay raises

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
It took two meetings, four votes, and several angry shouts from county employees in the audience, but by a 4-1 margin, the Macon County Board of Commissioners passed a $63,754,537 budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - County Commissioners Danny Antoine, Paul Higdon and Josh Young talk with County Manager Derek Roland about the budget during the June 13 board meeting. The board recessed the meeting and will reconvene on June 19.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - County Commissioners Danny Antoine, Paul Higdon and Josh Young talk with County Manager Derek Roland about the budget during the June 13 board meeting. The board recessed the meeting and will reconvene on June 19.

Commissioners vote 3-2 against budget

Thomas Sherrill
Thursday, June 15, 2023
By a 3-2 margin, the Macon County Board of Commissioners voted against the proposed 2023-24 fiscal year budget during their meeting on Tuesday, June 13, necessitating a continuation of the meeting on Monday, June 19, for a new vote.
Photo submitted - The Fontana Regional Library Board met in a called meeting on June 5 to review appeals concerning two books.

Photo submitted - The Fontana Regional Library Board met in a called meeting on June 5 to review appeals concerning two books.

Regional library board votes to move book

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
A book aiming to educate teens on relationships and safe sex, among other subjects, was moved to the adult section of the Hudson Library following a vote by the Fontana Regional Library board.
Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Brent Martin, executive director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, cuts the ribbon for the new kiosk and re-route of the Bartram Trail through Franklin during a June 7 ceremony.

Press photo/Thomas Sherrill - Brent Martin, executive director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, cuts the ribbon for the new kiosk and re-route of the Bartram Trail through Franklin during a June 7 ceremony.

New Bartram Trail route opens

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
With the snip of a ribbon, local officials and conservationists unveiled a new kiosk and re-routing of the Bartram Trail that connects to the Little Tennessee River Greenway from the Macon County Fairgrounds in a Wednesday, June 7, ceremony. “We are now standing officially at milepost 63.
Press photo/Thomas Sherill - Improvements to the AARC intake building.

Press photo/Thomas Sherill - Improvements to the AARC intake building.

AARC building on hold as costs increase

Thomas Sherrill
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Work on the new intake building at the Appalachian Animal Rescue Center has been halted due to a lack of funds, but a new trail for AARC dogwalkers recently opened.